In yesterday’s post I mentioned that I’d be sharing more information about painting mediums, or, I suppose media might be the technically correct form of the plural. Let’s not quibble over it, all right?

When I first began learning about oil painting — November 2016 — my first questions involved the use of medium. As a neophyte painter, I wasn’t even sure what medium was, let alone how to use it or why I would even want — or need — to use it. I didn’t have a clue.

So, let’s start with the most important question: why do artists use medium? There are a number of reasons, but behind each lies a single purpose.

MEDIUM IS USED TO MODIFY THE RESULTS OBTAINED FROM OIL PAINTS.

Oil paint is sold in tubes, and the viscosity — that is, to say, the consistency — may vary markedly from one manufacturer…